I am not sure how many of you have been following recent federal court rulings. But a decision had been handed down not too long ago - that video/PC games were not protected forms of expression as contemplated by the Bill of Rights. While it may have been initiated out of concern about the ever increasing and realistic violence in some games, this meant that all games were lumped in with this decision. I was floored that adventure games - with their emphasis on plot and characters and often complex issues were viewed this way.

The IDSA submitted scripts and storyboards from videogames to bolster its argument that games are artistic. The Court stated that its review of the records led it to believe that games carry “messages, stories, imagery and even an ideology just as books and movies do.”

It would be interesting to know the titles of the games that were submitted to show that games are artistic. Let's see, if it were me -- I'd show them The Longest Journey to show games as stories, RealMyst to show imagry, and Syberia to show ideology.

Sorry about that. It is a localized reference to the opening lines of a famous US editorial written uhmmm I think in the 40's. "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". It was late and the parallel leapt into my mind while I was writing.

I really can't imagine how a game is a form of expression, but... whatever. I guess everything's a form of expression these days. It's what gives us the right to do whatever we want. Of course I'm not opposed folks developing any kind of games they want. But using that argument to defend them is a little weak if you ask me.

Laura - in my own self-referential way, I thought, since I am in Virignia, that you were writing to me about my comments on Journey to the Wild Divine. See? One woman's clear thought is a Rorschach for everyone else!!!

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Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine - J.B.S. Haldane--------------------------------Games will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no games.

Originally posted by DanF: I really can't imagine how a game is a form of expression, but... whatever.

Well, if a book or movie is a form of expression, then some games must be. But considering how movies have age restrictions, I don't see how being labelled "a form of expression" makes a difference in restricting sales of games.

Well the problem was really the reverse. Placing reasonable age restrictions on access to violent/adult themed games shouldn't be justified on the basis that games don't contain ideas and thoughts the same as movies, comics, books and music.

The problem was that the proponents of the St Louis law argued that they could restrict sales, access or anything else that they wanted regardless because games were different than other forms of entertainment. The judge in that first case agreed. He didn't rule that the restrictions were reasonable because of an over riding interest in the protection of children. The courts have long ruled that local governments have the right to limit children

I wonder what the motive really was for originally separating games from movies. It looks like they wanted some games banned from production rather than just age restricted. Otherwise, why bother with the law.

And I would think it's obvious that games are a form of expression, just as are movies, books, music, art, or any other product of human imagination. I'm not saying they're all on the same artistic level, but if they start banning games, because some people find them objectionable, what's next???